The snow was piling up and the wind was howling, but a good number of pets and their best friends braved the elements to make it to Pet Photos with Santa Saturday, Dec. 9. Even a duck and a couple of chickens showed up! Don’t worry if you missed it: Round 2 of the LaPorte County Small Animal Shelter’s Pet Photos with Santa will take place this Saturday, Dec. 16!

This annual event always succeeds in putting all creatures — two- and four-footed — in a festive mood and raises funds for the shelter at the same time.

Give just $10 to have your pet or pets (and some humans, too, if you want) photographed with Mr. Claus by a professional. The photos make great Christmas cards, and the event itself is just fun. Even if you don’t have a pet, stop by to watch the merriment as shelter staffers try to corral cats, dogs, and the occasional lizard, horse or goat, to pose (hopefully) with Santa. You can also sign up for giveaways and more!

Bring your pets on leashes or in cages from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 16 to the Small Projects Building at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds.

For more information on the shelter and its animals available for adoption, visit the La Porte County Small Animal Shelter page on Facebook.

]]>http://whatsnewlaporte.com/2017/12/11/ready-for-some-fun-pet-photos-with-santa-scheduled-for-dec-9-16/feed/0LPHS, Boston, Kesling bands to perform Dec. 11-12http://whatsnewlaporte.com/2017/12/10/lphs-boston-kesling-bands-to-perform-dec-11-12/
http://whatsnewlaporte.com/2017/12/10/lphs-boston-kesling-bands-to-perform-dec-11-12/#respondSun, 10 Dec 2017 13:42:47 +0000http://whatsnewlaporte.com/?p=83749The La Porte High School and Boston and Kesling Middle School bands will present two concerts Dec. 11 and 12 in the LaPorte High School Auditorium. The concerts are free and all are invited.

On Monday, Dec. 11, the LPHS Wind Ensemble will be featured with the Kesling Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Bands at 7:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, Dec. 12, the LPHS Symphonic Band will be featured with the Boston Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Bands at 7:30 p.m.

A variety of music will be performed, including both traditional band music and holiday selections.

The LaPorte Little Theatre Club is proud to present not one, but two one-act plays this Christmas season. Enjoy the double feature — “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” — on Dec 8, 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 9, 10 and 17 at 2 p.m.

LaPorte Little Theatre, now in its 93rd season, is located at 218 A St. in a quaint building that once served as a church. Tickets ($15; $12 for students) may be purchased ahead of time at Roxy Music and Thaddeus C. Gallery. You may also make reservations online at laportelittletheatreclub.com or by calling 219-362-5113.

Both shows, directed by Bonnie Quigley, are sure to warm the hearts of all who attend this holiday show.

“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” related by narrator Beth (Norah Gartland), walks us through the chaos of a traditional Christmas pageant gone astray when the town troublemakers, the Herdmans, decide to attend church and take over the lead roles in the church pageant. Beth’s mother, Grace (Katy Gartland), becomes director of the pageant by default and is determined to make this “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” even with the Herdmans involved.

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” will bring the traditional Peanuts gang together to find the true meaning of the holiday. Through a pageant and a spindly tree, Charlie Brown and friends bring the holiday spirit back to life for families once again.

The director has double-cast the leading roles in an effort to give more kids an opportunity to shine. Charlie Brown (Wrigley Hemphill & Anthony Garcia) lead a talented young cast, which also includes Lucy (Olivia Lemon and Sydney Varnak), Snoopy (Alayna Tuholski and Natalie Gartland), Linus (Dylan Fritzen), and Schroeder (Daniel Burgess).

Schroeder at the Hobart-Cable piano, manufactured in LaPorte, at the museum.

A model of a farmhouse built by LaPorte resident Don Bowman for the movie “Prancer,” which was shot in and around LaPorte County in 1989.

Photos and information provided

Every year the LaPorte County Historical Society Museum presents a holiday theme. This year is no different. Come, have a stroll around the museum and participate in a Holiday Scavenger Hunt! Try to find all the Peanuts characters you can as part of the theme, “Good Grief! It’s Christmas!”

On Saturday, Dec. 16, starting at 11 a.m., the LaPorte Little Theatre cast from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” will be caroling at the museum. Bring the family, have your picture taken with the cast, and enjoy the displays and cookies.

The period rooms at the museum are decorated with trees and ornaments reflecting the decades portrayed. The Victorian Parlor is especially pretty this year!

The Giese Church, a LaPorte treasure for over 70 years, is up and running. Come see the little church that used to be on display outside a LaPorte funeral home.

Memorabilia from the movie “Prancer,” directed by LaPorte native John Hancock and filmed in and around LaPorte County in 1989, has its own display this year. Costumes and props, as well as director’s notes, are all being exhibited on the lower level of the museum. Come and remember the time that Hollywood came to stay in LaPorte County.

The museum, 2405 Indiana Ave., LaPorte, is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (The museum will be closed Dec. 23-25 and Dec. 31, Jan. 1-2.) The building is accessible to those with disabilities. For admission prices and more information, call 219-324-6767 or visit www.laportecountyhistory.org.

]]>http://whatsnewlaporte.com/2017/12/03/good-grief-its-christmas/feed/0Here are upcoming blood donation opportunities in LaPorte Countyhttp://whatsnewlaporte.com/2017/11/27/here-are-upcoming-blood-donation-opportunities-in-laporte-county/
http://whatsnewlaporte.com/2017/11/27/here-are-upcoming-blood-donation-opportunities-in-laporte-county/#respondTue, 28 Nov 2017 01:52:50 +0000http://whatsnewlaporte.com/?p=83546Blood donations slow during the holidays. If you can spare a little time, please consider donating at one of these Red Cross drives.

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood.

]]>http://whatsnewlaporte.com/2017/11/27/here-are-upcoming-blood-donation-opportunities-in-laporte-county/feed/0Public invited to Christmas cantata Dec. 10http://whatsnewlaporte.com/2017/11/19/public-invited-to-christmas-cantata-dec-10/
http://whatsnewlaporte.com/2017/11/19/public-invited-to-christmas-cantata-dec-10/#respondSun, 19 Nov 2017 21:23:04 +0000http://whatsnewlaporte.com/?p=83311The St. John’s Jubilee Ensemble and friends invite the public to attend “The Silence and the Sound” by Heather Sorenson, a stirring choral cantata celebrating the entrance of our Savior, the Word made Flesh, into our midst, Light overcoming all darkness. The cantata will take place Sunday, Dec. 10, at 3 p.m. at the Salvation Army Chapel, 3240 Monroe St., LaPorte.

Attendance is free. Refreshments will be served during a fellowship time after the concert.

]]>http://whatsnewlaporte.com/2017/11/19/public-invited-to-christmas-cantata-dec-10/feed/0Send our troops and veterans a little taste of home for the holidayshttp://whatsnewlaporte.com/2017/11/16/send-our-troops-and-veterans-a-little-taste-of-home-for-the-holidays/
http://whatsnewlaporte.com/2017/11/16/send-our-troops-and-veterans-a-little-taste-of-home-for-the-holidays/#commentsFri, 17 Nov 2017 04:41:38 +0000http://whatsnewlaporte.com/?p=83281

Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center is proud to be one of more than 800 Veterans and Family Memorial Care funeral home providers across America participating in the 10th annual VFMC Christmas Stocking for Soldiers & Veterans initiative.

From now through Dec. 1, please stop in at Cutler’s at 2900 Monroe St. and pick up a free Christmas stocking to take home, decorate, and fill with Christmas cheer. You will receive a list of recommended items along with the free stocking.

Cutler’s will either ship or deliver the stockings at their expense to troops abroad and veterans here at home in time for Christmas.

“Providing our heroes with some good tidings and Christmas cheer is a great way for us to show our support and appreciation for the sacrifices they make to keep our country safe and secure,” said Dale Knouse, owner of Cutler’s.

Pick up a stocking at the funeral home Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Hours for the Cookie Walk are 8-11 a.m. Hours for the Holiday Market are 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Hours for Breakfast with Santa, sponsored by St. John’s Youth Group, are 8:30 a.m. or 10 a.m. Breakfast will also feature games, crafts, story time, and goodie bags.

There is still room for more craft booths. For information about renting a booth, contact janismartinsen@hotmail.com. To reserve a spot for your kids at either of the Breakfast with Santa times, call 219-742-5802. Cost for breakfast is $6 for adults and $5 for kids.

]]>http://whatsnewlaporte.com/2017/11/16/st-johns-school-holiday-market-breakfast-with-santa-are-dec-2/feed/0Give blood at these upcoming local Red Cross driveshttp://whatsnewlaporte.com/2017/11/14/give-blood-at-these-upcoming-local-red-cross-drives/
http://whatsnewlaporte.com/2017/11/14/give-blood-at-these-upcoming-local-red-cross-drives/#respondWed, 15 Nov 2017 01:35:48 +0000http://whatsnewlaporte.com/?p=83228Here are local Red Cross blood drives coming up soon. Show up or make an appointment to give blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767):

Laura Krentz and Kris Cook of LaPorte stand near their paintings featured in the exhibition. Kris’s painting of Red Mill County Park is above Laura’s painting of Clear Lake at twilight.

LaPorte artist Janet Evans poses next to her painting of the moon rising over Clear Lake.

Kris Cook and Julia Holmaas pause in front of Julia’s painting of the moon rising over Clear Lake at the exhibition.

Information and photos submitted by Laura Krentz

The works of four LaPorte artists — Kris Cook, Susan Hughes, Julia Holmaas and Laura Krentz — are among those on display at the Duneland Plein Air Painters Exhibition in Chesterton throughout the month of November.

From May through October, members of the Duneland Plein Air Painters receive an email on Tuesdays announcing the Paint Out site where this group of artists will meet on Thursdays. Directions are often given to somewhere in Porter or LaPorte counties, but sometimes scenic spots in southwestern Michigan are the destination for the week. Painting begins anywhere from 8:30 a.m. to later in the afternoon, but even a moonrise and a nocturnal bonfire were themes for evening Paint Outs this year.

Enjoy the Plein Air painters’ latest works at an exhibit on display through Nov. 29 at the Chesterton Art Center, 115 S. 4th St., Chesterton.

Plein Air painting refers to painting in the “open air” or outdoors. Artists experience their subjects in changing light, atmospheric and seasonal color change, and also by absorbing the sights and sounds around them. A few friends informally organized a group to do just this in 2009. Laurie Schirmer Carpenter, one of these founding members, shared: “In the early days there might be only one or two people showing up for weekly paint outs and our mailing list totaled only about 10 painters. Today our mailing list reaches over 60 artists with 10 to 15 people meeting weekly to paint from life.”

Pat Herman, another member since day one, said: “Making art is one of the great joys of my life and being able to do it in the field, surrounded by the beauty of nature, is inspiring, joyful and challenging. To be able to share the experience with my Plein Air pals makes it really special.”

“We are an unstructured group; no officers, no dues and are open to anyone who wishes to paint outdoors,” Laurie said. “Beginners to professionals come together to share in the joys and trials of painting in the heat, cold, rain or wind and always hoping for ideal weather.”

For some members, one of the best parts of painting together is at the end of each session, when they have an informal critique of the works created that day. This has become a welcome finale to a Paint Out session.

Artists bonding together, enjoying the vistas and the challenge of working in their media — whether it be oil, watercolor, pastel, pencil or ink — in the outdoors, then sharing with each other their creative resolve, offering encouragement and helpful advice. The creative camaraderie shared by this group is enthusiastically summed up by member Jean Bargeron — “Paint ON!”

For more information on the Indiana and Duneland Plein Air Painters, visit http://inpainters.org or contact one of the local members mentioned above.